Slides on Peacebuilding: Role of Muslim Women in the Twenty-first Century. This paper was presented at International Conference on Women and Peace-building, which was held on September 23-24, 2016 at PWTC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

1. Belayet Hossen
Department of Quran and Sunnah Studies,
Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and
Human Sciences,
International Islamic University Malaysia
1

2. Introduction
 Today, Muslim women are heading towards the development and
peace-building of society and state along with men.
 They are actively playing very crucial role in every sector of Muslim
society. In addition, Muslim women are creating their dignified
position and acceptance in non-Muslim countries as well.
 In this paper I am going to present such Muslim women whose
contributions and strives for development, education and peace are
vigorously recognized across the world.
 They are Khadija (R.A.), ‘Aisha (R.A.), and from this generation are
Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain , Bangladesh, Datin Paduka Seri
Rosmah Mansor, wife of the prime minister of Malaysia and Nobel
Laureate Tawakkol Karman from Yemen.
2

3. Objectives of this paper
 To present the glorious contributions of women
companions of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) to the
Muslims of this age.
 To bring back the lost golden history of Islam to the
Muslim women in order to make them aware regarding
their responsibility towards the Ummah.
 To inspire and provide fuel the Muslim women to greater
contribute to the affairs of society and state.
 To encourage Muslim women towards being engaged in
peace-building of society.
3

4. Definition of Peace-building
 In 2007, the UN Secretary-General’s Policy Committee has
described peacebuilding as:
“A range of measures targeted to reduce the risk of lapsing or
relapsing into conflict by strengthening national capacities at all
levels for conflict management, and to lay the foundation for
sustainable peace and development.
 Peacebuilding includes activities designed to prevent conflict
through addressing structural and proximate causes of violence,
promoting sustainable peace, delegitimizing violence as a
dispute resolution strategy, building capacity within society to
peacefully manage disputes, and reducing vulnerability to
triggers that may spark violence.
4

5. Outstanding steps of women companions of Prophet
Muhammad (s.a.w.) to uphold peace-building in early
history of Islam
Khadija (R.A)
 She gave her earnings to the poor and to the orphans, to
the widows and the sick.
 She helped poor girls get married and provided their
dowry. Khadija was one of history’s most remarkable
women.
 Prophet Muhammad once said that the four greatest
women of mankind were: Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Fatima
bint Muhammad (his youngest daughter,) Mary bint
Emran (the Virgin Mary) and Asiya bint Muzahim (the
wife of Pharaoh.)
5

6. Role of Aisha (R.A) in peace-building
 On that day when Muhammad (s.a.w.) passed away,
there was not even food for a single day in his
household.
 Aishah maintained this tradition of generosity and
liberality right up to her last days.
 During the days of prosperity, abundant riches arrived
daily, but she always distributed them among the needy
by the time evening fell. The most outstanding trait of her
character was her innate magnanimity and
benevolence.
 Her generosity is well-known, and no beggar left her
door empty-handed.
6

7. Role of Aisha (R.A)…..
On one occasion, at one sitting, 'Aishah gave away
70,000 Dirhams in charity for Allah!
One evening she received Dirhams 1,00,000 from Amir
Mu'awiyah who was in Syria and by nightfall the entire
sum had gone to charity.
 Her maid reminded her that she was fasting and she
should have kept something for herself. She asked her
why she had not reminded her earlier.
On another occasion,'Abdullah bin Zubair sent her
1,00,000 Dirhams, and similarly they were also given
away as early as possible.
7

8. Aisha’s peace-building in knowledge
distributing.
 ‘Aisha (r.a.)attained a lofty status because of the knowledge
and wisdom with which she had been blessed. She was
consulted by the other Companions and women Companions
on the finer points of religion.
 Many of the traditions and authentic Ahadith originate from
her. From among the many Companions associated with the
Prophet (s.a.w.),, Aisha (r.a) was one of the most Hadith
narrators and number of Hadith was 2210.
8

9. Continuing ……
 Imam Thahabi (r.a) wrote that 'Aishah was superior to all
other women in her knowledge and wisdom.
 She was a theologian of the highest order.
 During the caliphate of the Khulfa-u-Rashideen, her Fatwa
was accepted.
 She had mastery over the Shariah laws regarding inheritance.
People are used to come to her for Fatwas on various issues
since she was the closest company of Prophet Muhamad
(s.w.a.).
9

10. Peace building of Muslim
women in different countries
throughout the world
10

11. Bangladesh
Begum
Rokeya
Shakhawat
Hossain
(1880-1932 ).
11

12. Short Biography
 Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain (1880-1932), she was a
Muslim social reformer who dedicated her whole life to
education and the empowerment of women.
 She was born in 1880 in Bangladesh during British colonial rule,
Rokeya was brought up in a Muslim family that followed the
purdah, a strict set of social rules which required women be
secluded from education.

13. Education
 People used to think that women do not require education.
Their job is only taking care the domestic chores. However,
the support from her brothers and husband would give her the
strength to persevere through harsh criticism, and inspire her
to become the author of several books and eventually open a
school for girls.
 Father was a landowner, he educated his two sons but kept
the daughter out of education thinking that Hijab will not
maintained if she goes to school. She has learned Bengali and
English from her brothers silently.
13

14. Her active efforts in peace-building
 Her husband Syed Sakhawat Hossain was a civil servant who firmly believed that the
education of women would cure society of its evils. Later on, he inspired her to
continue her education after marriage.
 Because of his support and encouragement she wrote some books on necessity of
women education and her husband deposited some portion of their income in order to
build a school for Muslim women.
 The Sakhawat Memorial Girl’s School still exists today. Founded in 1910 in Bangladesh
with only 5 girls students. Because of hindrance it was transfered in Calcutta in 1911.
 She founded Muslim Women’s Association, 1916.
 She joined many conferences in home and abroad.
 Every year 9th December is observed as “Rokeya Day” in Bangladesh.
14

15. Malaysia
Datin Paduka
Seri Rosmah
Mansor (10,
December 1951)
15

16. Short biography
 Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor was born in Kuala Pilah,
Negeri Sembilan on December 10th 1951.
 She has come a long way from her home in the suburbs and
her secondary schooling at the Tunku Kurshiah College, a
prestigious boarding school for bright Malay girls in Malaysia
16

17. Her Higher Degrees
 University Malaya and Louisiana State University in 1974 and
1978 respectively, Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor returned
to launch her corporate career, putting to good use her
Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Anthropology and her
Master's degree in Sociology and Agriculture Extension.
 She worked at Agriculture Bank Malaysia until 1983 .
 Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor left Island and Peninsular
to become a full time politician's wife to Dato' Sri Mohd Najib
bin Tun Hj Abd Razak,
17

18. Her achievements in peace-building
 She is the President of the Welfare Association of Minister's Wives .
And The Girl Guides Association of Malaysia.
 , Malaysian AIDS Council,
 , National Heart Institute Foundation
 Development of Underprivileged Children's Foundation.
18

19. Her achievements in……….
 Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor strongly believes that
human capital development begins with children and it is an
important investment for the nation. This will lay a firm
foundation for national growth, productivity, social cohesion
and peace.
 Conferring various high awards from the States of Pahang,
Kedah, Melaka, Selangor, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah
and Sarawak.
 The Honorary Doctorate in Education by University
Technology MARA Malaysia, the Honorary Doctorate of
Innovation in Human Capacity Development by Limkokwing
University of Creative Technology
19

20. Yemen
Yemen
Nobel Laureate
Tawakkol
Karman was
born on 7
February 1979
in Mekhlaf, Taiz
Governorate,
Yemen.
20

21. Short Biography
 Tawakkol Abdel-Salam Karman was born on 7
February 1979, is a Yemeni journalist, politician, and
human rights activist.
 “Women Journalists Without Chains”. (co-founder
2005).
 She has been called the "Iron Woman" and "Mother of
the Revolution" by Yemenis.
 She is a co-recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize,
becoming the first Yemeni, the first Arab woman.
 She redirected the Yemeni protests to support the
"Jasmine Revolution," as she calls the Arab Spring,
after the Tunisian people overthrew the government of
Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011.
 She has been a vocal opponent who has called for the
end of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime. 21

22. Education
 Undergraduate degree in commerce from the University of
Science and Technology, and graduate degree in political
science from the University of Sana’a.
 In 2012, she received an Honorary Doctorate in International
Law from University of Alberta in Canada.
22

23. Her Peace Movement
 She has also led protests against government
corruption. Her stand on the ouster of Saleh because of
his continuous corruption.
 Karman routinely speaks out against both the Shia
insurgency in Yemen and Al-Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula calling both of them are threats to Yemen's
national sovereignty.
 She has accused the Houthis of receiving foreign aid from
the Iranian government and objects to what she believes
are foreign efforts to leave the Houthis alone since they
are also fighting against Al-Qaeda.
23

24. Her strives in peace-building in Yemen
 As a response to the January 2015 events of the 2014–15
Yemeni coup d'état, she spoke out on what she believes is
collaboration between former president Saleh and the Houthi
rebels to undo the 2011 revolution by ending the transition
process.
 Karaman objects to U.S. drone policy in Yemen, calling the use
of them "unacceptable" and has argued that using them in
populated areas violates human rights and international laws.
 She has given scholarships to promising students from Yemen
to study at Istanbul Aydın University at undergraduate and
postgraduate level, in conjunction with the MBI Al Jaber
Foundation.
24

25. What to do Muslim women in this twenty-first
century?
 Muslim women are required to adopt the best ways in case of rearing
their children. So that their babies become very intelligent and full of
wisdom.
 Muslim women should have to have a complete idea of Islam so that other
doctrines do not distract them and make them confused regarding Islam.
 They should know what position Islam gave to them and what position of
women in other religions.
 Muslim women are allowed to be what they wish but it must be based on
shariah. In this case, they can be best scientist, best engineer, best medical
doctor, best educator, best social worker and best politician.
 Finally they are humbly requested to be constant in rituals. If they become
pious, men are compelled to be pious and obedient to Islamic rules and
regulations. Overall, they should come forward with men to build peace in
society and state.
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26. Conclusion
 In Islam, women are the main instrumental case, without whom
peace-building in society is entirely impossible.
 Because of their active role in inception of Islam at the period of
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), Islam achieved its maturity on
earth. The contributions of women companions of Prophet
Muhammad (s.a.w.) in establishment of Islam are well known to
all in history.
 Due to their bold encouragement and endless assistance to men
companions, they could build a peaceful society in Al-madina and
other Muslim territories.
 It is suggested to Muslim women that they can do in case of
peace-building in society what men can not afford at all. 26

27. References
1. Yasmina Blackburn, 7 Remarkable Things About Khadija, Wife of Prophet Muhammad, ( 2015). THE
HUFFINGTON POST. Retrieved 10 September 2016, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yasmina-
blackburn/7-remarkable-things-about_b_7097606.html .
2. http://www.unpbf.org/application-guidelines/what-is-peacebuilding/.
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacebuilding.
4. Mahmood Ahmad Ghadanfar , Great Women of Islam Who were given the good News of Paradise, translated
by Jamila Muhammad Qawi nto English.DARUSSALAM Publishers & Distributors Riyadh, Saudi Arabia P. 56-57.
(5) Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor , wife of the prime minister of Malaysia, (20016). Biograpy, Retrieved 13
September 2016, from http://www.pmo.gov.my/datinrosmah/?dsr=others&num=8 .
(6) National Women’s Party, (2016). Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain. Retrieved 12 September 2016, from
http://nationalwomansparty.org/womenwecelebrate/begum-rokeya-sakhawat-hossain .
(7) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Tawakkol Karman (2016). Retrieved 15 September 2016, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawakkol_Karman .
(8) Lisa Schirch . Women in Peacebuilding, Resource and Training Manual. West African Network for Peacebuilding
and Conflict Transformation Program at Eastern Mennonite University 2004.
(9) Aida Abadžić Hodžić . The Role of Women in International Peacebuilding: An Islamic Perspective.
(10) Damilola Taiye Agbalajobi. The Role of African Women in Peace Building
and Conflict Resolution: The Case of Burundi. Department of Political Science and Public Administration,
College of Management Sciences, Redeemer’s University, Redemption City, Ogun State, Nigeria.
(11) ADB. The Role of Women in Peacebuilding in Nepal . 2013.
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28. The End
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Thanks everybody for
helping me by listening
and watching